U.S. patent number 6,814,133 [Application Number 10/097,103] was granted by the patent office on 2004-11-09 for heat exchanger for cooling oil with water.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Calsonic Kansei Corporation. Invention is credited to Takeshi Yamaguchi.
United States Patent |
6,814,133 |
Yamaguchi |
November 9, 2004 |
Heat exchanger for cooling oil with water
Abstract
A heat exchanger for cooling oil with water includes (a) oil and
water chambers alternately arranged to form a core portion; (b) a
through hole formed in the core portion to allow an oil flow
therethrough; (c) first and second oil passages communicating with
the oil chambers; (d) a blocking plate for blocking a part of these
oil passages; and (e) a cover member covering one side of the core
portion. The through hole has one end as one of oil inlet and
outlet, and the first oil passage has one end as the other. The
cover member has an oil passage extending between the other end of
the through hole and at least one of the other end of the first oil
passage and an end of the second oil passage.
Inventors: |
Yamaguchi; Takeshi (Kanagawa,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Calsonic Kansei Corporation
(Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
18932543 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/097,103 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2002 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Mar 16, 2001 [JP] |
|
|
2001-075468 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
165/41; 123/196A;
165/167; 165/916 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F28D
9/0012 (20130101); Y10S 165/916 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F28D
9/00 (20060101); F28F 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;165/167,916
;123/196A,196B |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
93 09 741 |
|
Aug 1993 |
|
DE |
|
195 19 740 |
|
Dec 1996 |
|
DE |
|
1 124 105 |
|
Aug 2001 |
|
EP |
|
2 270 971 |
|
Mar 1994 |
|
GB |
|
62-005092 |
|
Jan 1987 |
|
JP |
|
2-270971 |
|
Mar 1994 |
|
JP |
|
7-286786 |
|
Oct 1995 |
|
JP |
|
07-286786 |
|
Oct 1995 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Bennett; Henry
Assistant Examiner: Patel; Nihir
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Foley & Lardner LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A heat exchanger for cooling oil with water, comprising: a
plurality of plates stacked together to form a core portion of said
heat exchanger such that a plurality of oil chambers for receiving
the oil and a plurality of water chambers for receiving the water
are alternately formed between said plates, said water chambers
being communicated with each other through first and second water
passages; a first wall portion for defining a through hole in said
core portion, said through hole allowing the oil to flow
therethrough and having first and second ends at first and second
sides of said core portion respectively, said first end being one
of an inlet for allowing the oil to flow into said core portion and
an outlet for allowing the oil to flow out of said core portion; a
second wall portion for defining a first oil passage in said core
portion, said first oil passage extending between said first and
second sides of said core portion to communicate with said oil
chambers, said first oil passage having first and second ends at
said first and second sides of said core portion respectively, said
first end of said first oil passage being the other of said inlet
and said outlet; a third wall portion for defining a second oil
passage in said core portion, said second oil passage extending
between said first and second sides of said core portion to
communicate with said oil chambers; said second oil passage having
first and second ends at said first and second sides of said core
portion respectively; a first blocking plate for blocking a part of
said first and second oil passages such that a flow of the oil is
turned from one of said first and second oil passages to the other
of said first and second oil passages; and a first cover member for
sealingly covering said second side of said core portion, said
first cover member having an oil passage extending between said
second end of said through hole and at least one of said second end
of said first oil passage and said second end of said second oil
passage, wherein a completely void space is provided between said
first and second ends of said though hole.
2. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a
second cover member for sealingly covering said first side of said
core portion, said second cover member comprising (a) first to
fourth through openings at respective positions corresponding to
said through hole, said first oil passage and said first and second
water passages and (b) a wall portion for closing said first end of
said second oil passage.
3. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said first cover
member has an attaching portion for attaching said heat exchanger
to another member.
4. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second water passages have at said first side of said core portion
(a) an inlet for allowing the water to flow into said core portion
and (b) an outlet for allowing the water to flow out of said core
portion, respectively.
5. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said first and
second water passages have at said second side of said core portion
(a) an inlet for allowing the water to flow into said core portion
and (b) an outlet for allowing the water to flow out of said core
portion, respectively.
6. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said heat
exchanger comprises (a) said first blocking plate for blocking a
part of said first oil passage and (b) a second blocking plate for
blocking a part of said second oil passage, wherein said first
blocking plate is at a position closer to said first side of said
core portion than said second blocking plate is such that a
meandering flow of the oil is provided in said core portion.
7. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said through hole
is formed at a central portion of said core portion.
8. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said plates
comprise first and second plates alternately stacked together to
form said core portion, each of said first plates having first and
second flanges respectively providing said second and third wall
portions.
9. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising a
cylindrical reinforcing member providing said first wall
portion.
10. A heat exchanger according to claim 7, wherein said first and
second oil passages are symmetrically arranged about said through
hole.
11. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said oil passage
of said first cover member extends between said second end of said
through hole and said second end of said second oil passage.
12. A heat exchanger according to claim 11, wherein said oil
passage of said first cover member is formed by way of a depression
in a portion of said first cover member that extends directly
beneath said second oil passage and said through hole.
13. A heat exchanger according to claim 6, wherein said second wall
portion comprises a first region provided proximate to said first
side of said core portion and disposed above said first blocking
plates, and a second region provided proximate to said second side
of said core portion and disposed below said first blocking plates,
wherein said third wall portion comprises a first region provided
proximate to said first side of said core portion and disposed
above said second blocking plates, and a second region provided
proximate to said second side of said core portion and disposed
below said second blocking plates, wherein oil entering into said
core portion arrives into the first region of said second wall
portion, is then redirected to the first region of said third wall
portion by way of a first one of said first blocking plate, and is
then redirected to the second region of said second wall portion by
way of said second blocking plate, and is then redirected to the
second region of said third wall portion by way of a second one of
said first blocking plates.
14. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, further comprising an
oil inlet pipe that is coupled to the through hole of said first
wall portion, wherein an oil outlet end of said oil inlet pipe for
providing oil to said core portion is disposed against said first
end of said core portion, and wherein the oil outlet end of said
oil inlet pipe is located above all of said oil chambers and all of
said water chambers of said heat exchanger.
15. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said first end
of said through hole is an inlet for allowing the oil to flow into
said core portion and said second end of said through hole is an
outlet for allowing the oil to flow out of said core portion, and
wherein said second end of said through hole is connected to an oil
outlet pipe such that said oil outlet pipe does not extend into
said through hole.
16. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein said second end
of said through hole is an inlet for allowing the oil to flow into
said core portion and said first end of said through hole is an
outlet for allowing the oil to flow out of said core portion.
17. A heat exchanger according to claim 1, wherein oil is
introduced into an upper end of said core portion and thereby into
said first oil passage, wherein said oil then flows into said
second oil passage and thereby into a lower end of said core
portion, and wherein said oil then flows through said oil passage
of said first cover member and into said through hole, and then
flows through said through hole back to the upper end of said core
portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger (oil cooler) for
cooling oil with water and particularly to a so-called housing-less
type oil cooler formed by stacking plate members together.
Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication JP-A-7-286786 discloses such
housing-less type heat exchanger (oil cooler), as shown in FIGS.
6-8 of the present application. As shown in FIG. 6, this heat
exchanger has a core portion 51. This core portion 51 is reinforced
with upper and lower reinforcing plates 53, 55 (made of aluminum).
The upper reinforcing plate 53 is covered with a cover member 57,
and a void space 59 is provided between the cover member 57 and the
upper reinforcing member 53. A collar member 63 is disposed at a
central portion of the core portion 51 for receiving an attaching
bolt 61 therethrough. An attaching member 65 is disposed under the
lower reinforcing plate 55 for attaching the heat exchanger to an
automatic transmission. As shown in FIG. 7, each of the upper
reinforcing plate 53 and the cover member 57 is provided with
through holes for receiving therethrough a cooling water inlet pipe
67 and a cooling water outlet pipe 69. The core portion 51 is
formed of first and second plates 71 and 73 (made of aluminum
having thereon a cladding of a brazing material) alternately
stacked together such that cooling water chambers 75 and oil
chambers 77 are alternately formed between these plates 71, 73. As
shown in FIG. 6, adjacent oil chambers 77 are communicated with
each other through a pair of oil passages 79a and 79b, which are
symmetrically arranged about the collar member 63 disposed at the
central portion. Furthermore, inner fins 81 are received in the oil
chambers 77. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, adjacent water
chambers 75 are communicated with each other through a pair of
cooling water passages 83, which are symmetrically arranged about
the collar member 63. The oil passages 79a and 79b are partly
blocked by blocking plates 71A, 73A. As shown in FIG. 6, an oil
inlet pipe 85 is inserted deep in the core portion 51 by passing it
from a first side (the side of the cover member 57) through the
cover member 57, the upper reinforcing plate 53, the 9 oil passage
79a and the blocking plates 71A and 73A. The oil inlet pipe 85 is
formed with upper and lower projections 85a and 85b. The upper
projection 85a is brazed to the cover member 57 to sealingly close
the through hole of the cover member 57. The lower projection 85b
is sealingly brazed to the blocking plate 71A. The oil inlet pipe
85 has a diameter that is substantially smaller than that of the
oil passage 79a, except at the position of the blocking plates 71A
and 73A, such that an annular space is provided between the oil
inlet pipe 85 and the outer periphery of the oil passage 79a. The
oil is allowed to flow through the annular space as shown by the
arrows of FIG. 6. An oil outlet pipe 87 is inserted in the core
portion 51 by passing it through the cover member 57 and the upper
reinforcing plate 53. The oil outlet pipe 87 is formed with (a) a
projection 87a sealingly brazed to the cover member 57 and (b) and
an end sealingly brazed to the upper reinforcing plate 53. As shown
in FIG. 6, the oil is introduced into a lower portion of the core
portion 51 from the oil inlet pipe 85. Then, it is allowed to flow
in the core portion 51 in a meandering manner by the provision of
the blocking plates 71A and 73A, as shown by the arrows of FIG. 6.
After that, it is allowed to flow out of the core portion 51 into
the oil outlet pipe 87. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 7, the
cooling water is introduced into the core portion 51 from the
cooling water inlet pipe 67. Then, it is allowed to flow through
cooling water passages 83. Each cooling water chamber 75 is filled
with the cooling water, thereby conducting a heat exchange between
the heated oil and the cooling water. After this heat exchange, the
water is allowed to flow into the cooling water outlet pipe 69 from
the core portion 51. As shown in FIG. 8, the heat exchanger 99 is
attached to an automatic transmission 91. In fact, this
transmission 91 is formed with threaded projections 93. An
attaching base 95 is fixed to the threaded projections 93 by
threadedly engaging bolts 97 with the threaded projections 93. The
attaching base 95 is formed at center with a threaded hole 95a. The
attaching bolt 61 is inserted into the collar member 63 of the core
portion 51 and then threadedly engaged with the threaded hole 95a,
thereby attaching the heat exchanger 99 to the automatic
transmission 91. Furthermore, oil inlet and outlet pipes 101 and
103 of the transmission 91 are respectively connected with the oil
inlet and outlet pipes 85 and 87 of the heat exchanger 99. It is
possible to turn the oil flow direction by the provision of the
blocking plates 71A and 73A. As mentioned above, the oil inlet pipe
85 is inserted deep in the core portion 51 in order to achieve an
oil flow in a meandering manner. This makes the heat exchanger's
piping structure very complicated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
heat exchanger that is capable of achieving an oil flow in a
meandering manner without inserting a pipe member deep in a core
portion of the heat exchanger.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a heat
exchanger that is capable of providing a superior heat exchange
between oil and cooling water with a relatively small number of
parts and a relatively simple construction.
According to the present invention, there is provided a heat
exchanger for cooling oil with water, comprising: a plurality of
plates stacked together to form a core portion of said heat
exchanger such that a plurality of oil chambers for receiving the
oil and a plurality of water chambers for receiving the water are
alternately formed between said plates, said water chambers being
communicated with each other through first and second water
passages; a first wall portion for defining a through hole in said
core portion, said through hole allowing the oil to flow
therethrough and having first and second ends at first and second
sides of said core portion respectively, said first end being one
of an inlet for allowing the oil to flow into said core portion and
an outlet for allowing the oil to flow out of said core portion; a
second wall portion for defining a first oil passage in said core
portion, said first oil passage extending between said first and
second sides of said core portion to communicate with said oil
chambers, said first oil passage having first and second ends at
said first and second sides of said core portion respectively, said
first end of said first oil passage being the other of said inlet
and said outlet; a third wall portion for defining a second oil
passage in said core portion, said second oil passage extending
between said first and second sides of said core portion to
communicate with said oil chambers; said second oil passage having
first and second ends at said first and second sides of said core
portion respectively, a first blocking plate for blocking a part of
said first and second oil passages such that a flow of the oil is
turned from one of said first and second oil passages to the other
of said first and second oil passages; and a first cover member for
sealingly covering said second side of said core portion, said
first cover member having an oil passage extending between said
second end of said through hole and at least one of said second end
of said first oil passage and said second end of said second oil
passage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a first heat exchanger according
to a first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the
lines 1--1 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the first heat exchanger, taken
along the lines 2--2 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 3 is a front view showing the first heat exchanger;
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a condition in which the first heat
exchanger is attached to another member;
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing a second heat
exchanger according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing a conventional heat
exchanger;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the conventional
heat exchanger; and
FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view showing a condition in which
the conventional heat exchanger is attached to an automatic
transmission.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a first heat exchanger according to a
first embodiment of the present invention will be described in
detail in the following. This heat exchanger is a so-called
housing-less type oil cooler.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first heat exchanger has a core portion 11
disposed between upper and lower reinforcing plates (made of
aluminum) 13 and 15. The upper reinforcing plate 13 is covered with
and brazed to a cover member 17. The cover member 17 serves to
cover a first side of the core portion 11. The cover member 17 has
an opening for receiving an oil inlet pipe 19 for introducing oil
into the core portion 11. Furthermore, the upper reinforcing plate
13 also has an opening 13a at a position corresponding to the oil
inlet pipe 19.
The first heat exchanger has a cylindrical reinforcing member 21 at
a central portion of the core portion 11 for reinforcing structure
of the core portion 11, thereby providing a through hole 23
allowing an oil flow therethrough. Another cover member 25 is
brazed to the bottom surface of the lower reinforcing plate 15 for
sealingly covering a second side of the core portion 11.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 17 has respective
openings for receiving cooling water inlet and outlet pipes 27 and
29. The upper reinforcing plate 13 is also formed with through
holes 13b and 13c at positions respectively corresponding to the
cooling water inlet and outlet pipes 27 and 29.
The core portion 11 is formed of first and second plates 31 and 33
alternately stacked together such that a plurality of water
chambers 35 for receiving the cooling water and a plurality of oil
chambers 37 for receiving the oil are alternately formed between
these plates 31 and 33. These plates 31 and 33 are each made of an
aluminum having thereon a cladding of a brazing material.
As shown in FIG. 1, adjacent oil chambers 37 are communicated with
each other through a pair of first and second oil passages 39a and
39b, which are symmetrically arranged about the reinforcing member
21. In fact, one water chamber 35 is sandwiched, together with
these first and second oil passages, between these adjacent oil
chambers 37. Furthermore, an inner fin 41 is received in each oil
chamber 37. In contrast, as shown in FIG. 2, adjacent water
chambers 35 are communicated with each other through a pair of
first and second water passages 40a and 40b, which are also
symmetrically arranged about the reinforcing member 21. In fact,
one oil chamber 37 is sandwiched, together with these first and
second water passages 40a and 40b, between these adjacent water
chambers 35. Each first plate 31 may have first and second
cylindrical flanges respectively defining the first and second oil
passages 39a and 39b. Each second plate 33 may also have first and
second cylindrical flanges respectively defining the first and
second water passages 40a and 40b.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first and second plates 31 and 33 may be
partly not provided with their openings to block the first oil
passage 39a. Thus, such first and second plates 31 and 33 can serve
as a first blocking plate 31A and 33A. For example, when the oil is
introduced into the core portion 11 through the oil inlet pipe 19,
the oil is allowed to flow through the first oil passage 39a in a
downward direction in FIG. 1. Then, the oil is allowed to turn left
in FIG. 1 at the first blocking plate 31A and 33A, then to pass
around the cylindrical reinforcing member 21 toward the second oil
passage 39b, and then to flow in a downward direction in FIG. 1
through the second oil passage 39b. Therefore, the provision of the
first blocking plate 31A and 33A makes it possible to achieve an
oil flow in a meandering manner in the core portion 11. This
provides a superior heat exchange between heated oil and cooling
water. Similar to the first blocking plate 31A and 33A, the core
portion 11 has a second blocking plate 31B and 33B for blocking the
second oil passage 39b. The second blocking plate has a function
similar to that of the first blocking plate, thereby achieving an
oil flow in a meandering manner in the core portion 11.
As shown in FIG. 1, the core portion 11 is respectively formed at
its first and second sides with (a) a cap member 43 for sealingly
closing an end opening of the through hole 23 and (b) a cover
member 25 for sealingly closing the other end opening of the
through hole 23. The cap member 43 (made of aluminum) is sealingly
brazed to the cover member 17. The cover member 25 (made of
aluminum) is sealingly brazed to the lower reinforcing plate 15.
The cap member 43 is formed with a through hole 43a for connecting
the oil outlet pipe 45 thereto. The cover member 25 is provided on
its inner surface with an oil passage (oil turning passage) 25a by
forming a depression 25b. This oil passage 25a communicates with
and extends between the second oil passage 39b and the through hole
23. Therefore, it is possible to provide an oil flow from the lower
end of the second oil passage 39b into the through hole 23 through
the oil passage 25a (see the arrows of FIG. 1) and vice versa.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the cover member 25 is monolithically
formed with three attaching portions 25c with an angle of 120
degrees between adjacent two attaching portions 25c. Each attaching
portion 25c is formed with a through hole 25d for receiving a bolt
49 therethrough. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the first heat
exchanger can be attached by the bolts 49 to other members 46 and
47, which are arranged to have a space therebetween in a vertical
direction in an automotive engine compartment.
Parts for forming the first heat exchanger are previously coated
with an anticorrosive flux, followed by drying. Then, these parts
are assembled together, followed by heating in a furnace to braze
the parts, thereby producing the first heat exchanger.
As stated above, heated oil is introduced into the core portion 11
through the oil inlet pipe 19. Then, it is allowed to flow through
the first oil passage 39a in a downward direction in FIG. 1. Then,
it is allowed to flow in the core portion 11 in a meandering manner
by the first and second blocking plates 31A, 31B, 31B and 33B,
thereby conducting a heat exchange between the heated oil and the
cooling water. Then, the cooled oil is allowed to flow from the
lower end of the second oil passage 39b in FIG. 1 into the through
hole 23 through the oil passage 25a and then into the oil outlet
pipe 45.
As shown by arrows in FIG. 2, cooling water is introduced into the
core portion 11 through the cooling water inlet pipe 27, and then
is allowed to flow through the cooling water passage 40b. Each
cooling water chamber 35 is filled with the cooling water to
conduct a heat exchange between the heated oil and the cooling
water. Then, the cooling water is allowed to flow out of the core
portion 11 from the cooling water passage 40a into the cooling
water outlet pipe 29.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first heat exchanger is characterized in
that the oil outlet pipe 45 is connected to the through hole 23
formed at a central portion of the core portion 11. Therefore, it
is possible to assuredly turn the oil flow direction without
inserting a pipe member deep into the core portion 11. Thus, the
first heat exchanger is very simple in piping structure. For the
purpose of reinforcing the core portion 11, it is provided with the
reinforcing member 21 at its central portion. This reinforcing
member 21 collaterally provides the through hole 23. In the first
heat exchanger, the through hole 23 is effectively used as a
so-called oil outlet passage for guiding the cooled oil toward the
outside of the core portion. It is needless to say that the through
hole 23 can effectively be used as a so-called oil inlet passage
for guiding the heated oil toward the inside of the core portion
when the oil flow direction is the opposite to that shown in FIG.
1.
As stated above, the oil outlet pipe 45 is connected to the through
hole 23 formed at a central portion of the core portion 11.
Therefore, the distance between the oil inlet pipe 19 and the oil
outlet pipe 45 is substantially shorter than that shown in FIG. 6.
With this, it becomes unnecessary to provide excessive pipes for
their connections to the oil inlet pipe 19 and the oil outlet pipe
45.
The cover member 25 has the oil passage 25a and the attaching
portions 25c formed monolithically. This can prevent the increase
of the number of parts for producing the first heat exchanger.
FIG. 5 shows a second heat exchanger according to a second
embodiment of the present invention. The second heat exchanger is
substantially the same as the first heat exchanger except that the
cooling water inlet and outlet pipes 27 and 29 are disposed on a
second side of the core portion 11 (opposite to that of FIG. 2).
Thus, the second heat exchanger is freer than the first heat
exchanger in terms of layout of the cooling water inlet and outlet
pipes. In the second heat exchanger, the lower reinforcing plate 15
is formed with through holes 15b and 15c for respectively receiving
the cooling water inlet and outlet pipes 27 and 29. Similarly, the
cover member 25 is also formed with through holes 25e and 25f for
that.
The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.
For example, the oil flow direction (shown by the arrows of FIG. 1)
can be opposite. In fact, it is optional to introduce the heated
oil into the through hole 23 through the pipe 45. With this, the
oil is allowed to flow into the second oil passage 39b through the
oil passage 25a. Then, it is allowed to flow in a meandering manner
by the provision of the first and second blocking plates 31A, 31B,
33A and 33B, thereby conducting a heat exchange between the heated
oil and the cooling water. Then, the cooled oil is allowed to flow
out of the core portion 11 from the first oil passage 39a into the
pipe 43.
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-75468
filed on Mar. 16, 2001, including specification, drawings, claims
and summary, is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
* * * * *